Administration

EAHCP is a collaborative effort by the Edwards Aquifer Authority, the City of New Braunfels, the City of San Marcos, the City of San Antonio through SAWS, Texas State University, and Texas Parks and Wildlife

Contact Information

Science Review Panel

SRP members discussing the science of EAHCP Conservation Measures on an EAHCP kayak tour. October 28, 2015, Landa Lake, City of New Braunfels, Texas.

As defined in the Edwards Aquifer Habitat Conservation Plan (EAHCP), the Edwards Aquifer Authority has retained the National Academy of Sciences to act as an independent Science Review Panel (SRP). The SRP provides scientific advice in support of the EAHCP. The SRP is comprised by 11 scientists* chosen by the National Academy of Sciences.SRP advising consists of a multi-year, formal review process consisting of three distinct phases, each culminating in the delivery of a published report:

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Report 1 |Report 1 was published in early 2015. This review focused on EAHCP’s hydrologic and ecological models, water quality and biological monitoring, and applied research program. In Report 1, the SRP identified that the EAA and the other Permittees are doing an excellent job in implementing many aspects of a complex habitat conservation plan, and that addressing several overarching scientific and modeling issues would further strengthen the plan. The following are key documents of reference concerning the SRP's Report 1 review:

Report 2 | Report 2 was published in late 2016. This review features evaluation and recommendations concerning Report 1 implementation, EAHCP's monitoring programs, scenarios for ecological and hydrological modeling, and Conservation Measure implementation. This report found that good progress has been made in several different EAHCP programs, and identified areas for continued improvement. The following are key documents of reference concerning the SRP's Report 2 review:

Report 3 | This third and final report will focus on the relationships among proposed conservation measures (including flow protection and habitat restoration), biological objectives (such as water quality criteria, habitat condition, and specified spring flow rates), and biological goals (such as maintaining populations of the Covered Species). The following are key documents of reference concerning the SRP's Report 3 review: